Daily Clips

January 17, 2018

LOCAL

Royals' Watson honored with scouting award

January 16, 2018 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/gene-watson-wins-legends-in-scouting-award/c-264742898

Duffy placed on probation for DUI

January 16, 2018 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-danny-duffy-placed-on-probation-for-dui/c-264769138

Royals hire Lamont as special assistant to GM

January 16, 2018 By Manny Randhawa/MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/gene-lamont-hired-as-special-assistant-for-kc/c-264768012

Padres owner on pursuit of Eric Hosmer: ‘He’s a very impressive individual’

January 16, 2018 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article194905094.html

Danny Duffy enters DUI plea, receives probation

January 16, 2018 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article194962914.html

MINORS

Janus Named Delaware Sportscaster of the Year

Broadcaster Wins Top State Honor From National Sports Media Association

January 16, 2018 By Kevin P. Linton/Wilmington Blue Rocks

https://www.milb.com/blue-rocks/news/janus-named-delaware-sportscaster-of-the-year/c-264761772

NATIONAL

Here's why baseball's economic system might be broken

January 16, 2018 By Jeff Passan/Yahoo! Sports

https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-baseballs-economic-system-might-broken-224638354.html

MLB TRANSACTIONS
January 17, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

LOCAL

Royals' Watson honored with scouting award

January 16, 2018 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/gene-watson-wins-legends-in-scouting-award/c-264742898

When Royals director of pro scouting Gene Watson got the call that he was receiving the Legends in Scouting Award from the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation, he joked that there must be a mistake.

"I'm not that old, am I?" asked Watson, 49.

But the PBSF assured him that the award was not age-related and was instead a tribute to those scouts who exemplify a love for the game and a passion for scouting. Watson certainly qualified.

Watson received the award at the 15th annual PBSF Awards Dnner in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday. The event always brings out an array of stars across the baseball and entertainment fields, from George Brett to Tommy Lasorda to Larry King to Robert Wuhl.

"It was a very humbling experience," Watson said. "I was very honored. Scouting is my life, my passion."

The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation was founded in 2003 by White Sox executive Dennis Gilbert, D-backs executive Roland Hemond and big league scouts Dave Yoakum (White Sox) and Harry Minor (Mets), primarily as a way to provide financial assistance to scouts who have fallen on hard times due to job loss, illness or retirement.

Watson is in his 12th season with the Royals after coming from the Marlins' organization, where he worked as a pro scout covering the American League Central and the National League Central from 2002-05.

Watson began in the Padres' system in 1997 before joining the Braves and working under Royals general manager Dayton Moore there from 2000-02.

Watson played college baseball at the University of Texas at Arlington from 1989-91.

Duffy placed on probation for DUI

January 16, 2018 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-danny-duffy-placed-on-probation-for-dui/c-264769138

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy pled guilty to driving under the influence in a Kansas City suburb last summer, and he has been placed on probation, according to a report in The Kansas City Star on Tuesday.

A city official in the suburb of Overland Park, Kan., told the newspaper that Duffy entered the plea last Thursday, was fined $1,220 and must avoid alcohol for a year, per the probation.

Duffy was cited for DUI on Aug. 27 in the drive-through lane of an Overland Park restaurant.

Duffy, 29, has four years left on a five-year, $65 million deal and has been the subject of several trade rumors this offseason as the Royals look to conduct a rebuild.

Royals hire Lamont as special assistant to GM

January 16, 2018 By Manny Randhawa/MLB.com

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/gene-lamont-hired-as-special-assistant-for-kc/c-264768012

The Royals have hired former White Sox and Pirates manager Gene Lamont as a special assistant to general manager Dayton Moore.

Lamont, 71, has also served as a coach with the Pirates (1986-91, 1996), Red Sox (2001), Astros (2002-04) and Tigers (2006-17). From 1978-85, he was a manager in the Royals' farm system, at the helm for the Class A Fort Myers Royals from 1978-79, the Double-A Jacksonville Suns from 1980-83, and the Triple-A Omaha Royals from 1984-85.

"We are delighted that Gene will be joining the Royals as a member of our baseball operations department," Moore said in a statement. "He has a wealth of experience and will be a strong addition to our organization."

Lamont led the White Sox to an American League West title in 1993, and he was named AL Manager of the Year that season. Overall, he managed Chicago from 1992-95, and Pittsburgh from 1997-2000.

The 2018 season will mark Lamont's 54th year in professional baseball.

Padres owner on pursuit of Eric Hosmer: ‘He’s a very impressive individual’

January 16, 2018 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article194905094.html

Just four weeks from Tuesday, the Royals will open spring training in Surprise, Ariz.

Will free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer be back with the Royals or headed to a different camp? No one knows for certain as he is one of many free agents yet to agree to a contract.

The Royals reportedly offered a seven-year, $147 million contract to Hosmer, and the other main suitor for Hosmer is the Padres. Their deal is rumored to be for seven years and $140 million.

On Tuesday, Padres executive chairman and co-owner Ron Fowler told a San Diego radio station that the team’s front office had Hosmer on their radar six months ago when it was clear he would be a free agent.

“They like him, they like his makeup, they like his leadership in the clubhouse, and obviously they like him as an athlete,” Fowler said on Mighty 1090 AM. “We met with him, and he’s a very impressive individual. He signed out of high school, but when you talk to him, it’s like he’s a very polished individual. He’s had a lot of experience with the press. He knows what he feels about life. .... He’s really focused on baseball.”

Fowler was asked about the Padres making a seven-year offer to Hosmer’s agent Scott Boras. Fowler said general manager A.J. Preller, assistant general manager Josh Stein and manager Andy Green think it’s not a danger and believe Hosmer will play well through the length the contract.

“They feel like this guy is so focused, he has all of the exercise stuff, all of the elements in place to take care of himself like few players have,” Fowler said. “He would be 28 in the first year (of a contract) and obviously 34 would be the last year is if it’s seven(-year deal). ... I think we were pretty creative in the way we put a contract proposal together.

“We like it. I don’t know if Mr. Boras likes it, but that’s another story.”

Fowler also talked about the slow pace of free-agent signings this offseason and said it was because of the luxury-tax threshold and a big free-agent class coming next year.

Danny Duffy enters DUI plea, receives probation

January 16, 2018 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article194962914.html

Royals pitcher Danny Duffy has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Overland Park and placed on probation, according to a city spokesman.

Sean Reilly, a communications manager of Overland Park, confirmed Tuesday that Duffy entered the plea last Thursday. He was fined $1,220, including court fees and must not drink or use illegal drugs for a year, in accordance with the probation. He will be subjected to random breath, blood and urine tests, Reilly said.

Duffy had previously entered a not guilty plea. He was cited for DUI around 8 p.m. Aug. 27 in the drive-thru lane of a Burger King restaurant after employees called police because they saw a vehicle stopped short of the window with a man inside slumped over the console between the driver’s and passenger’s seats.

Duffy, 28, concluded his seventh season with the Royals in 2017, posting a 9-10 record with a 3.81 ERA in 24 starts. He signed a five-year, $65 million contract extension last January following the best season of his career in 2016.

Two days after being cited in Overland Park, Duffy held a news conference at Kauffman Stadium and apologized “for the distraction.” He also asked Royals fans and observers to “let the facts shake out.”

For now, Duffy has not faced any public discipline or punishment from Major League Baseball. The Royals did not have any comment on the matter Tuesday.

MINORS

Janus Named Delaware Sportscaster of the Year

Broadcaster Wins Top State Honor From National Sports Media Association

January 16, 2018 By Kevin P. Linton/Wilmington Blue Rocks

https://www.milb.com/blue-rocks/news/janus-named-delaware-sportscaster-of-the-year/c-264761772

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are proud to announce that lead radio play-by-play broadcaster Matt Janus has been named the 2017 Delaware Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. The award is voted on by members of the media from the state of Delaware. It is the second time Janus has won the award.

"Matt brings a high amount of passion, energy and excitement to every broadcast," said Blue Rocks general manager Andrew Layman. "Through the years, we have had some incredible announcers who have achieved great success. Jim Rosenhaus is in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Bob McElligott calls NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Mark Nasser announces Triple-A baseball for the Omaha Storm Chasers, and John Sadak does national television and radio work for CBS Sports Network and Westwood One. I'm proud that Matt has carried on that tradition and is living up to the high standard we have set on our radio broadcasts."

In 2017 Janus completed his fifth season as the voice of the Blue Rocks, calling 140 baseball games on the airwaves of the team's radio partner, 89.7 WGLS-FM. The Middletown, DE native has been a staple within the organization for almost two decades. He began working for the Blue Rocks as a 15-year-old sophomore in high school when he sold yearbooks and scorecards. He moved to the marketing department during college, and then joined the media relations staff as the team's assistant director of broadcasting and media relations in 2009. He was promoted to New Media Manager prior to the 2011 season, and took over the lead play-by-play job two years later.

During the Blue Rocks' offseason, Janus does television work on both football and basketball broadcasts. In 2017 he provided play-by-play for the CAA Football Game of the Week on Fox College Sports and called women's basketball for both the CAA and on the Big East's Digital Package.

He is also a key contributor to the radio broadcasts at his alma matter, the University of Delaware. The 2007 UD graduate has spent the last 11 years on the 94.7 WDSD football radio crew, serving as color commentator for six seasons before transitioning to a role on the pregame show in 2017. He is currently in the midst of his ninth campaign calling University of Delaware women's basketball on Fox Sports 1290 AM and 1410 WDOV, and his sixth as the team's primary play-by-play voice.

The National Sports Media Association is an organization of more than 1,000 members that honors excellence in the industry, while passing along knowledge and history in the crafts of sportscasting and sportswriting through the generations.

The News Journal's Kevin Tresolini claimed Delaware Sportswriter of the Year honors from the organization for the 11th time. National Sportscaster of the Year Kevin Harlan of CBS and Turner Sports and National Sportswriter of the Year Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, along with Janus, Tresolini and all of the other state victors, will be honored at the 59th Annual NSSA Awards Weekend, June 23-25, 2018 in Winston-Salem, NC.

The Blue Rocks open their season on Thursday, April 5 at Potomac and start their home slate at Frawley Stadium on Thursday, April 12 versus the Lynchburg Hillcats. Hear Janus call all of the action on 89.7 WGLS-FM. Season seats, mini plans and group packages for the upcoming campaign are on sale now. For more information, please see the team's website at BlueRocks.com.

NATIONAL

Here's why baseball's economic system might be broken

January 16, 2018 By Jeff Passan/Yahoo! Sports

https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-baseballs-economic-system-might-broken-224638354.html

Never did Tony Clark utter the word. He didn’t have to. Every question he asked, every implication he made, dripped with its presence. Early last week, as top officials from Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association met and discussed the sport’s debilitated free-agent market, Clark, the executive director of the union, wanted to establish a few things for the record. Does baseball’s labor-relations department give advice on free-agent contracts? No, he was told. Was free-agent strategy discussed at the most recent owners’ meetings? No again. Clark continued. The answer never changed.

Diplomacy kept him from uttering that word, the most loaded in the baseball lexicon, one with a sordid history of imperiling past offseasons: collusion. In the minds of those who see every other rationalization for the frozen market as little more than an excuse, the notion of teams working with one another to suppress free-agent prices had crept from paranoid delusion to entirely possible.

With no smoking gun, it, too, is merely a theory, one the league rejects. In a statement to Yahoo Sports, MLB said: “There are a variety of factors that could explain the operation of the market. We can say that without a doubt collusion is not one of them. It’s difficult to pinpoint a single cause, but it certainly is relevant that an agent who has a long track record of going late into the market controls many of the top players.”

That agent is Scott Boras, who represents first baseman Eric Hosmer, outfielder J.D. Martinez, pitcher Jake Arrieta and third baseman Mike Moustakas – the first three of whom entered the offseason expecting to fetch $100 million-plus deals and, like so many others, are jobless with pitchers and catchers reporting in less than a month. At a time when teams combined for record profits of $981 million in 2016 according to Forbes, players are wondering what happened to their cut. Only 51 free agents have signed this winter for a total of $655 million. Just 13 are position players. Stars and scrubs, old and young, hitters and pitchers – this market does not discriminate; it has said, simply, if you play baseball, you must wait.

Of all the agents in the game, Boras is the likeliest to loiter in the market until the best deal reveals itself. That fact does not capture the reality of his nine-figure free-agent contracts. He has negotiated 13. Eight came before January. And not once has he taken multiple high-end free agents into a new year, let alone four.